Casing-perforator.



H. B. FULMER.

CASING PERFORATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 27, 1911.

IHI

COLUMBIA FLANoGRAPH co., wAsmNuToN. D. c.

FFlCE.

HARVEY BATES FULMER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

CASING'r-PERFORATOR.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARVEY Barns FUL- irnn, a' citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and'State of California, have invented a new and useful Casing-Perforator, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to casing perfora tors, and the main objects of the invention are to construct a. tool which is of great strength and durability, having no small parts liable to break, and which will be positive in operation.

Another important object is to increase the perforating capacity by employing a plurality of perforating cutters, the cutters operating simultaneously during the perforating operation, thereby producing a plurality of rows of perforations at one operation.

Another object is to provide a simple and el'licient means for easily adjusting the tool for perforating casings of various sizes.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a sectional view through a portion of a casing, showing the tool in position for operation. Fig. 2 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of the tool with the nearest side plate removed. Fig. 3 is a section on line @J3-m3 Fig. 2. Fig. et is a section on line aft-:c4 Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line 5--005 Fig. 1.

The perforator comprises two side plates 1, the lower ends of which are secured by bolts 2 to a block 3, and the upper ends being secured by bolts 4 to a hollow neck 5. Between the plates 1 is a wedge consisting of two outer plates 6, two intermediate plates 7 and an inner plate 8, bolts 9 passing through these live plates and holding them securely in position. The center plate '8 is smaller than the other plates, thus forming a groove in each edge of the wedge. The intermediate plates 7 are provided with a plurality of concave notches 10 for a purpose to be described.

There are two'perforating cutters 11 em` ployed, each perforating cutter having a hub 12 with a series of projecting teeth 13. rllhe shafts 14 upon which the cutters are journaled are riveted in the lower ends of links 15. The upper ends of the links 15 are pivoted at 16 to a T-head 17 on a rod 18, which passes loosely through the hollow Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led June 27, 1911.

Patented July 2, 191.2.

serial No. 635,679.

niit the rollers 16 to be adjusted to dilferent positions to fit casings of di tferent diameters.

The functions of the rollers 16 primarily are to prevent the walls of the casing from springing in and assuming an oval cross section during the perforating operation. hen the teeth of the perforating cutters enter the walls of the casing, they exert such a pressure that it forces the walls engaged by the teeth outwardly and the intermediate portions of the walls spring inwardly. When this action occurs it increases the `diameter of the casing at the point where the cutters act and prevents the short teeth 'of the cutters from passing entirely through `the walls of the casing, and heretofore. for

these reasons cutters with longer teeth have been used so that the teeth will pass clear through the walls even when the walls have sprung out. lith my construction, however. the rollers 1G prevent the intermediate portions of the walls from springing in, and this gives stabilit-v to the other' portions of the wall, so that the pressure from the teeth of the cutters does not spring the walls out so far and the teeth of the cutters do not have to be so long to pass through. I am thus enabled to use the short toothed cutters which are much easier to construct andare much stronger.

rlhe side plates 1 above the wedge are provided with a series of slots 19 which are `adapted to receive a key 21 the purpose of which to limit the relative downward movement of the T-head 17 with respect to the wedge. f

In operation the tool is lowered down the xasing 22, the rod 18 during this movement being held up so that the perforating cutters are nearthe upper end of the wedge and when the tool. has been lowered to the point where the perforations are to commence, the rod 1S is pushed downward relatively to the wedge which causes the links 15 to be swung outwardly, the perforating cutters being forced by the wedge against the wall of the casing, during this action, the hubs 12\ rolling on the edges of the plates 7. Sutlicient force is exerted to cause the perforating cutters to press firmly against the casing and bite into the same. The tool is then lifted, the inner rod 18 remaining in position and as the tool is thus lifted, the wedge passing upwardly between the perfor-ating cutters, forces the cutters outwardly by reason of the hubs 12 rolling upon the edges of the wedge and forcing the nearest teeth of theperforating cutters through the wall of the casing. The upward movement of the tool is continued until the key 21 strikes the T-head 17 at which time the hubs 12 of the perforating cutters will he against the wall of the casing and the key 21 having reached the T-head 17, continued upward movement of the tool from this point will lift the Thead 17, links 15, and pull upward on the perforating cutters and the lat-ter will be rolled along the casing and their teeth will perforate the wall of the casing, as the wedge holds the perforatving cutters spread apart in perforating position. Then the key 21 strikes the T-head 17, the hubs 12 will enter the concave recesses 10 and the latter will give clearance to the hubs, permitting the hubs to rotate freely, the perforating cutters at this point being held outwardly by the outer plates 6 of the wedge bearing against the lower edge of the links 15, so that the only friction is that between the shafts 14 of the perforating cutters and their journals. It is to be noted that during the spreading .action of the wedge in forcingV the perforating cutters apart, that the contact between the wedge andthe perforating critters is a rolling contact, the hubs of the perforating cutters at this time rolling on the edge of the wedge, but when the wedge vhas moved far enough so that the hubs drop into the concaverecesses 10, the links 15 then strike solidly against the outer plates 6 of the wedge and carry the strain while the hubs 12 are thus relieved from the strain and rotate freely in .the recesses 10. The wedge forms a solid abutment between. the two links 15 to positively hold the perfor-ating cutters spread apart in perforating position, and as the inward pressure or reaction from both cutters is equal and from opposite sides the strains balance each other and thereby relieve the tool from any strain tending to distort it or cause breakage.v This gives the tool great strength.

When the key 21 is in the lowest slot 19 Y as shown in Fig. 2, the wedge will travel its maximum distance and spread the perforating cutters Widest apart until the key 21 strikes the T 17, and the key when so adjusted is for perforating casings of large diameter as, for example, 16 inches, and the hubs 12 willv operate freely in the lower concave recesses 10. By placing the key 21 at the highest slot 20, the wedge will be moved but a relatively short distance before the key strikes the T 17, and the perforating cutters will be spread apart for a smaller sized casing, as, for example, 12 inch. The key when adjusted to the central perforations 19, will adjust the tool for perforating 14 inch casing. After the perforating hasV been done, the tool is moved downward which causes the wedge to release the perforating cutters and the latter then swing inwardly and escape the wall of the casing, permitting the tool to be moved freely inthe casing to a lower position or withdrawn.

What I claim is:

1. A casing perforator comprising a plurality of perforating cutters, links supporting the same, a wedge movable between the perforating cutters and moving the cutters apart, said wedge bearing against the lower ends of said links, and the wedge being recessed to permit the cutters to revolve freely when in working position.

2. A casing perforator comprising a frame, a wedge carried by theframe, a pair of perforating cutters, links supporting the cutters, a. rod slidable with respect to the frame and supporting the links, said wedge bearing against said links and being recessed to permit free rotation of the perforating cutters.

3. A casing perforator comprising a frame, a wedge carried by the frame, a pair of perforat-ing cutters, links supporting the cutters, a rod slidable with respect to the frame and supporting the links, said wedge bearing against said links and being recessed to permit.free rotation of the perforating cutters, and adjustable means for limiting the relative movement of the wedge with respect to said links.

4:. A casing perforator comprising a frame, a wedge carried by the frame, a pair of perforating cutters, links supporting the cutters, a rod slidable with respect to the frame and supporting the links, said wedge bearing against said links and being recessed to permit free rotation of the perforating cutters, said frame having a series of slots and ar key adapted to be placed in any of cutters, hubs on said performing cnt-ters In testimony whereof, I `have hereunto set adapted to roll on Jche edge of the Wedge myhanfl at Los Angeles, California., this 9th While the Wedge is being moved with respect; day of June, 1911.

to Jche cutters, said Wedge having concave re- HARVEY BATES FULMER. oesses to receive seid hubs and permit Jdie In presence of hubs to revolve freely upon the Wedge When G. T. HAGKLEY,

the cut-ters are in perforating position. GLADYS RUSSELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

